Ooni unveils Olojo Festival logo

OONI of Ife Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, has unveiled the logo for the Olojo festival.

The event was held at the Oonirisa Palace in Ile-Ife.

It was followed by the signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Festival Planning Committee and INFOGEM Media, a leading festival marketing firm in Nigeria.

At the event, Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola praised the Ooni for promoting the Yoruba culture. He described the cultural renaissance and social economic development in Ile-Ife as unprecedented, noting that the conscious effort of the monarch would restore the notion that the state is the foremost cultural centre of the world.

The governor, represented by the Director-General, Office of Economic and Partnerships, Dr. Charles Akinola, said: “I am aware of the importance of this festival to Kabiyesi. This is the first Olojo you are celebrating on the throne of Oduduwa. You are beginning well and making a very good impression. May you live long to celebrate many more.

“Olojo is one of the oldest festivals in Ife, and celebrated all over Yorubaland as Ogun, the god of iron, noted for creativity. It is perhaps the most famous of the festivals in Ile-Ife which echoes reverberate all over the world. It is proper, therefore, that it is being branded and presented in modern form. It is going to reinforce the notion of Ife as a foremost cultural centre.

He noted that beyond cultural projection, there was the economic imperative of culture, foremost of which is tourism. “We can build a thriving economy around our culture and monuments. The annual pilgrimages to Mecca, Jerusalem and Rome are distinct economic activities that sustain these countries. Tourism is a silent money spinner that supports the economies of many nations,” he said.

According to Aregbesola, Olojo is one of the oldest festivals in Ife and celebrated all over Yorubaland as Ogun, the god of iron, noted for creativity. This, he said, was perhaps the most famous of the festivals in Ile-Ife which echoes reverberate all over the world. “It is proper therefore that it is being branded and presented in modern form. It is going to reinforce the notion of Ife as a foremost cultural centre,” he added.

He said the state government has a tourism master-plan that is being developed within its financial capability. “What is most important now is for entrepreneurs and those interested to partner with the government in order for our state and people to benefit from this tourism money-spinner,” he added.

The governor, however, reiterated the commitment of his administration to the support of cultural events and tourism programmes for the economic growth of the people.

Festival Advisory Committee Chairman, Oba Idowu Adediwura, said the ceremony was to signify the commencement of the festival, the first since Oba Ogunwusi ascended the throne. He said the contents of the festival logo include the Aare sacred beaded crown, appearance of the new dawn-‘Ojo’, Ile-Ife, the Ori Olokun insignia, 2016, colour purple and the red ribbon.

IINFOGEM Media Chairman, Otunba Ayo Olumoko said his firm has the responsibility to market the festival to the world as well as seek corporate sponsors for the event.

“This is our event, we have to make it successful and we are going to work in line with His Imperial Majesty Oba Ogunwusi’s vision of rebranding the festival,” he said.

The event featured special prayer Iwure by the Ooni, homage-paying by the traditional chiefs, performances of traditional music and dance by Olosirigi, Alabi Ogundepo and Arike Ade.